Welcome to the basics of Markdown, a lightweight markup language with plain-text formatting syntax. It is often used to format text on websites, especially in the creation of rich text and source code listings.

Table of Contents

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a text-to-HTML conversion tool for creating formatted text using a plain text editor. It is designed to be easy to read and write, and to be converted to HTML and other formats with a simple text-to-HTML conversion tool.

Why Use Markdown?

Markdown is popular for several reasons:

  • Ease of Use: It uses simple syntax that is easy to learn and remember.
  • Rich Text: It allows you to create rich text without having to use HTML tags.
  • Minimalist: It keeps the focus on your content rather than the formatting.

Basic Formatting

Here are some basic formatting options in Markdown:

  • Headers: Use # to create headers. The number of # symbols corresponds to the level of the header.

    • # is the highest level (h1)
    • ## is the second level (h2)
    • ### is the third level (h3)
    • and so on...

  • Emphasis: Use * or _ to italicize or bold text.

    • *italic* or _italic_ creates italic text.
    • **bold** or __bold__ creates bold text.

Lists and Links

Markdown supports unordered and ordered lists.

  • Unordered Lists:

    • Use - or * at the start of each line to create an unordered list.
        • List item 1
        • List item 2
        • List item 3

  • Ordered Lists:

    • Use 1. or 1) at the start of each line to create an ordered list.
        1. List item 1
        1. List item 2
        1. List item 3

To create a link, use the following syntax: [Link Text](URL).

Images

To include an image in your Markdown document, use the following syntax: ![Alt Text](Image URL).

  • Markdown

Advanced Features

Markdown offers many advanced features, including tables, code blocks, and more. For a comprehensive list of features, you can refer to the Markdown syntax guide.

Conclusion

Markdown is a simple and powerful tool for creating formatted text. By using the basic formatting options and advanced features, you can create well-structured and visually appealing content.

If you want to learn more about Markdown, we recommend visiting our Markdown tutorial.